Football stadium upgrades delayed

Jasper County's football stadium upgrades, originally planned for completion by May 15, won't be ready until August because the project requires adjustments that meet building codes.

The changes will cost the Jasper County School District an extra $61,315.

According to M.B. Kahn Construction's Bob Sebire, the state's Department of Education's Office of School Facilities (OSF) has required the construction of eight additional restroom facilities, for a total of 16.

The district also needs to create three handicap parking spaces and two handicap accessible water fountains.

The OSF also wanted to require the district to build restrooms on the stadium's visitor's side, but Sebire said there's an agreement in progress with Jasper-Ridgeland Youth Baseball to use its facilities, which are within 500 feet from the visitor's side. The district expects to get a waiver from the OSF to use the JRYB facilities.

Sebire expects the project to be completed by the "first football game in August."

The original cost of the project was $250,000.

According to chief of staff Darryl Owens, the district plans to have its May 31 graduation at the site, but the construction areas will be sectioned off. There will also be restrooms available.

Superintendent Vashti Washington said the extra money will come from the superintendent's contingency account and a portion from other unused maintenance accounts.

Sebire said any money not spent will go back to the district.

"In the end, we'll show you exactly where every penny went," Sebire said.

Upgrades include the expansion, repairs and improvements to the concession stands, restroom and storage facilities. There will be a heating system, a stove and cooling box.

There's $25,000 budgeted for HVAC, which Sebire said is for an exhaust fan. He's looking for a more affordable price.

"We will continue to find ways to cut costs for this project," he said.

The school board approved the extra money at Monday's regular meeting (8-1 vote) and Sebire expects work to begin on the project next week.

Arthur Holmes, officer of academics and human resources, gave a snapshot of all the district's personnel as of April 30:

• The Jasper County School District has 236 certified administrators and teachers, excluding bus drivers, cafeteria and maintenance workers, and 110 classified employees.

• Of those, 23 certified teachers resigned for various reasons: 10 at Ridgeland Elementary School; five at Hardeeville Elementary; five at Hardeeville-Ridgeland Middle School and three at Ridgeland-Hardeeville High.

• There are five retirees, all at Hardeeville-Ridgeland Middle School, who the district cannot offer a contract. Holmes said the district must interview other potential teachers for those positions. If it cannot find replacement teachers when school begins, the district can then interview the retired teachers in hopes of filling the opening.

• According to the report, the district expect to have 84 percent of certified teachers return to Ridgeland Elementary; 89 percent return to Hardeeville Elementary; 91 percent return to HRMS; 94 percent return to RHHS and 50 percent (one of two). Total retention 89 percent. In comparison, in 2011-2012, the district had 77 percent of teachers return and 89 percent in 2012-13.

• Classified employees not returning: Eight (7 percent)

Washington said the number of certified teachers returning is encouraging.

"That's an excellent retention rate the last couple of years," Washington said. "It's not all doom and gloom."